23RD ANNUAL KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN
2020 certainly had its challenges but the pink family totally rocked it! While 2021 continues to throw all the pandemic related feels at us, the one thing that has not changed is the need to raise funds for those battling breast cancer across Canada. 2021 started off where 2020 ended but we have seen an improvement on the return of “getting back to normal”. Regardless of whether we are in person or whether we will be virtual this year the event will take place in February 2022. We are hopeful that we will be visiting our friends at Hidden Valley Resort once again. Last February the event moved to a virtual platform and took place over the whole month of February. We have received many questions on upcoming events and more specifically upcoming IN PERSON events (we so cannot wait for that to happen). There is potential that this year we may see a similar format roll out that we saw last February or may be a hybrid event of sorts – please refer to our website or facebook group for the most up to date information. All this being said, Our Ontario Event Committee is in full swing preparing for our 23rd Annual Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run. Both the charity and physical event have become well known throughout the years with its unique all-women snowmobiling theme (but we are all for equal opportunity and want to make sure we
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give credit where its due - to the amazing guys that support us (even though the ride is normally just for the ladies). You may have heard of this event before, but we would like to share our story with you. Close to Christmas in 1996 Kelly Shires found a lump on her breast and she did not procrastinate. She immediately visited her doctor and they determined right away she had breast cancer. Kelly was also newly pregnant at the time and the doctors decided it was necessary to terminate the pregnancy and began a whirl wind of surgeries and on-going chemotherapy. From the beginning Kelly experience firsthand all of the realities that come along with a diagnosis and treatment plan and Kelly wanted to do something right away to the help others in the same or similar situation. This is where the idea for the ‘Snow Run” was born and that is when Kelly and Suzy Stenoff teamed up and launched its first Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run for fun in January 2000. Much has changed since that first year, the momentum for the charity continues to grow over the years. Kelly’s cancer was in remission for a short time but then came back and this time also moved into her bones and liver, she never stopped her chemotherapy. 2004 was the last event that Kelly rode in, she was not feeling well but she never let that get in the way and was always smiling no
matter what. Not only did she ride in this event, but she also led one of the teams and at her last Snow Run she would see it raise over $250,000. A big leap from the $10,000 raised just 5 years earlier. On October 31, 2004, Kelly lost her long hard battle with breast cancer but continues to be an inspiration to us all. Losing Kelly was a devastation to everyone around her but it was also a lesson in determination, strength and that together we can accomplish anything. During the past 23 years, this “little” volunteer driven charity alongside with the enthusiastic snowmobilers who participate, the extraordinary sponsors and amazingly dedicated volunteers have raised over $7.4 million dollars. Expanding Kelly’s dream, in 2010, Tracey Guthrie (who lost her battle with breast cancer in June 2016) and Suzy Stenoff co-founded an ATV event in support of the charity (www.trax4bc.com). Let’s not forget the Fore the Love of Pink annual golf tournament organized. Last year the Ontario Snow Run event raised over $410,000.00 thanks to the hard work of our participants and generous Sponsors. There are many reasons why someone may want to get involved or why they would want to come and participate. Our annual raffle will still be taking place and tickets are at Royal Distributing locations for only $10 for your chance to win:
